Anonymous
Years ago
Would a team in the lower divisions of big v be allowed to field a team with 6 americans who are naturalized australians?
If not why can a team with 6 naturalized australians be allowed to compete. It shouldn't matter which country the players are from. If there was 6 players from iceland in the one team surely they would not be allowed
Big V in past seasons have at the discretion of the league not allowed a team to field 2 americans who became australians because they thoughit an unfair advantage. It happened to a couple of teams last season.
Reality
Years ago
Seems like common sense however it is a bit discriminatory against someone due to the country of birth.
If a club challenged the league on this point the league would have to alter its position as otherwise they'd be in breach of the anti discrimination act.
Either that or they'd be enforcing the rule on all naturalized Australians a a number of teams would be without players particularly those of Sudanese backgrounds. who play together.
the NZNBL has a rule where each team can only field one naturalized Kiwi
It shouldn't matter 5 americans should not be allowed in the same team and 5 sudanese should not be allowed in the one team
Melbourne Boy
Years ago
Which teams are in question this season and also which teams in the past were denied?
I'm pretty sure warrnambool were not allowed to suit up bobby cunningham one year after they already had 2 imports and tim gainey as naturalized.
League discretion also had a hand in keilor not being allowed to play ivan harris this year after he became an aussie. Team already had 2 imports and another naturalized player
Melton and collingwood both have half the team made up of players that weren't born here
Reality
Years ago
Doing it just to US born players seems to break the anti discrimination laws...wonder if any clubs bothered to test it and push back against the Big V or would that result in poor treatment on other issues for that club later on.
SteveK2
Years ago
Ummm you have that much money in Big V to splash on lawyers?
Greggo
Years ago
Come on... getting up in arms about refugees playing in this league, like they should be restricted like american imports? Some people are just stupid.
Get off the boards Pauline
I'm sure a local soccer team would allow half the team be made up of brazilians who are now aussies. I don't think so
I was waiting for someone to play the race card. Every time anything goes against someone Oh they must be racist. Ref calls travel must be racist. get on with it
Pretty sore losers by some of the melton players after altona beat them not shaking hands. It's all good when you win everyone is happy hey
Anonymous
Years ago
It's not like it’s a national or even high level event, but probably the club should have more loyalty to locally grown players than trying to cash in on Americans who have now decided to call Australia home.
They are not exactly imports once they take up Australian citizenship, and their country of birth should not be held against them. But it’s harsh on those players who may have done the hard yards coming through junior ranks for that club or areas to then be set aside for an entire team of players who haven’t IMO.
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